EFCC Probe Of N6.6b Diverted Cash In Akwa Ibom State, Indicts 8 Top Lawyers, Commissioner

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing
some Akwa Ibom State officials for alleged withdrawal of
N6.5billion in cash from an imprest account
The
Nation report^[1].

The cash was said to have been diverted from a derivation
account to the imprest account of the Ministry of Justice/ Office
of the Accountant-General in the state.

But following intelligence report, EFCC discovered that the
allocation was gradually withdrawn in cash for “unknown
purposes.”

Detectives have started investigating clues that the cash was
laundered by some state officials including a commissioner.

About N200million out of the sum has been traced to the account
of a commissioner in the state.

Findings revealed that N105million out of the N200million was
suspected to be a kick-back from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
who was allegedly paid about N530million as “curious legal
fees.”

According to a fact-sheet obtained from the anti-graft agency,
the N6.5billion was diverted from a derivation account to the
imprest account between 2015 and 2017.

A top source, who is privy to ongoing investigation, said: “The
ongoing investigation of Akwa Ibom State has led to the uncovering
of how another N6.5billion was withdrawn in cash in tranches for
unspecified purposes.

“The Bank Unit succeeded in tracking the cash from the
Derivation Account/ Allocation to the imprest account of the
Ministry of Justice/ Office of the Accountant-General in the state.
This investigation is different from the N1.4billion, belonging to
the state, which was wired into 11 suspected slush accounts.

“Preliminary investigation confirmed a serious case of money
laundering. The N6.5billion was withdrawn in piecemeal in cash to
cover up any trail.

“We are already looking into the accounts of some individuals
and officials of the state including a commissioner who was
suspected to have benefitted about N105million out of about
N530million linked with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

“In fact, records showed that the commissioner made many cash
deposits of N5million, N10million and N20million into his personal
accounts. One of the aides of the commissioner was discovered to
have assisted in making the cash deposits too.

“Our detectives have renewed the review of the SAN’s accounts
accordingly. Certainly, many links were used to launder the
N6.5billion.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The aide to the
commissioner has been detected and he has made useful
statement.

“Cash transactions by officials in Akwa Ibom have become
rampant. But we will get to the roots of the laundering of this
N6.5billion between 2015 and 2017.”

The EFCC had earlier discovered how about N1.4billion belonging
to Akwa Ibom State Government was wired into 11 suspected slush
accounts.

The cash was remitted into the suspected accounts in two
tranches of N1.1billion and N300million.

Some of the accounts belong to eight top lawyers in the country
who are under surveillance.

One of the affected lawyers has made statement to the EFCC on
how he came about huge transfers into his account from Akwa Ibom
State Government accounts.

The source told detectives that the “curious deposits” were
legal fees for 16 cases but without records of any agreement
between his team and the state government.

But instead of paying the legal fees through cheques, the
N1.4billion was hauled into the 11 accounts in cash.

The EFCC however discovered that one of the accounts was opened
on March 16, 2016 and the narration of the deposit showed that it
received huge sum on March 14, 2016.

The N1.4billion was remitted into the 12 accounts as follows:
N135m; N120m; N100m; N60m; N60m; N65m; N570m; N75m; N75m; N75m;
N30m; and N45m.

The fact-sheet said: “There was no document tied to specific
payment. The deposit also did not specify what the cash was meant
for.

“There was no evidence of any agreement between the state
government and the beneficiaries of the N1.4billion. The lead
coordinator of the lawyers who benefitted from the cash could not
say how much was charged and how much was agreed upon.

“The lead lawyer only said the cash was for 16 cases in various
courts across the country but only a case was reflected as having
gone from the lower court to the Supreme Court.

“The lead lawyer has made statement without any shred of
evidence or document to justify the legal contract.”